Can any one offer proof that the X frame is investment cast?

Can anyone offer proof, the X frame is forged?

Historically S&W steel frames have been forged. Internal frame finish in areas such as behind the crane appear to me to be identical to those on my 625 and 629 N frames as near as I can tell.

Only way to KNOW for sure would be to see the factory making the frames however. As I recall a visit to the S&W factory shown on TV not long ago, featuring the 500 Mag, showed frames being forged. Do you have any evidence either way?

What difference anyway? Ruger has used investment castings for 50 years with excellent results.

I would like to know, which it is, cast or forged.

I have no problems with investment cast.

Pine tree has done a large number of reciever castings and not just for Ruger. All the Montana action are done at Pine Tree.

Forged.

Ken

Look how clean it is on the inside. There's no machining on the interior. It must be cast.

Unless, of course, it has been EDMed.

It looks too clean to be cast too.

I ran across a picture on another site of an X-frame forged frame. I have more than a little experience with investment casting. The picture looks to me like a casting that was forged also.

If you go to John Ross's web site and look at his .500 S&W he has for sale, there is a link to the Gun Blast web page with a story and about John Ross's .500, that he had S&W build to his specs. The frame picture titled forged frame. Look at the trigger guard. Look at the top strap. Look at the poricty in the crane area in another picture further down.

I feel this is a vary interesting subject.

I wish there was a way to use 500 magnum's picture. I think this is further proof.

Mack Heath: I don't believe that EDM would leave the finish in the picture posted above your reply.

All steel starts life at the steel mill as a cast ingot. Some is later cut and forged, some is remelted and cast.

All S&W revolver and centerfire pistol metal frames are forged from huge pieces of bar stock. If you take the tour, you may get a chance to see the gentleman at the forge making X-frames!
Each step of manufacture during the forging process is on display inside the "museum" inside the factory. Just schedule a visit and see for yourself- as I did.

There used to be a video on youtube- of a tour of the S&W factory that they did for one of the NRA shows...(American Handgunner??? can't remember) that showed the whole process of the X-frame, step by step.

An investment cast frame will not take the beating the .460 throws out.

quote:

There used to be a video on youtube- of a tour of the S&W factory that they did for one of the NRA shows...(American Handgunner??? can't remember) that showed the whole process of the X-frame, step by step.

I'd seen this on a couple of shows, they used to make all the frames the same way. I haven't kept up with them and couldn't say for sure if they still did or not.